Wind-driven highway marker



1954 H. s. ROEMISCH WIND-DRIVEN HIGHWAY MARKER Filed July 29, 194

2 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

'QQEMIScH WIND-DRIVEN HIGHWAY MARKER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 29,1949 ATTORNEY.

INVENTOR.

WIND-DRIVEN HIGHWAY MARKER Harry S. Roemisch, Breclrsville, Ohio,assignor to Reconstruction Finance orporation, a corporation of theUnited States Application July 2%, 1949, Serial No. 107,465

2 Claims. ((13. 40-39) This invention relates generally to highwaymarkers such as are used on roadways to inform approaching traffic ofconstruction work ahead, school crossings, intersections or otherhazardous situations. More specifically, the present invention relatesto a rotatable highway marker which is actuated by the prevailing aircurrents.

It is customary to use warning signs of various types on roadways,however, it is expected that the highway marker which forms the subjectof the present invention will have its greatest utility as a mobiledevice, that is, one which is carried from place to place and set uptemporarily.

I have found that a motorists attention is attracted more readily by amoving object than a stationary one, and this feature is of particularimportance in the case of temporary markers, the location of which themotorist is entirely unfamiliar with.

It is therefore a primary object of my invention to provide a highwaymarker which will rotate in response to air currents and the like.

Another object of my invention is to provide a marker of the characterdescribed, which is especially adapted for use as a temporary, mobilemarker, in that it is collapsible or foldable for transportation orstorage.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a temporary highwaymarker which is so constructed as to withstand high wind velocitieswithout being blown over.

A further object of my invention is to provide a highway marker whichwill be able to carry a plurality of warnings or messages which will bevisible in a predetermined sequence to an oncoming motorist.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andin which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughoutthe same,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a wind-driven highway marker embodying thefeatures of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the same.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 33of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4of Fig. 2, showing the function of the latch member when the blades ofthe marker are in operative position.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the blades in foldedposition.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 66of Fig. 2 showing details of the blade support.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line7-'7 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevational view showing a modified form ofblade structure.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 99 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on line ill-10 of Fig. 9.

Referring more specifically to Figs. 1 and 7 inclusive of the drawings,1 have shown a post or standard 1 formed of pipe or tubing, the lowerend of which is sealed by a hexagonal plug 2 which is suitably securedthereto. The plug 2 is provided with a central vertically extendingopening 3 for a purpose which will be described hereinafter.

A hexagonal sleeve member 4 is slidably mounted on the standard 1 forlongitudinal movement relatively thereto.

1 atom O Ears 5 project from alternate faces of the sleeve 4, and toeach of the ears is pivotally secured a leg 6 formed of angle iron orthe like, so as to form a tripod.

Ears 7 project from corresponding faces of the plug 2 and to each of theears 7 is pivotally secured one end of a link 8, the other end of whichis pivotally connected, as at 9, to a leg 6. Inasmuch as the sleeve 4 ismovable, the legs 6 can be moved radially inwardly or outwardly to varythe height at which the standard is supported above ground level. Thesleeve 4 can be locked in any selected position by means of a thumbscrew it) which threadedly engages the sleeve and which can be turnedinto frictional engagement with the standard 1, as best seen in Fig. 7.

As is apparent from the foregoing description, the tripod assembly canbe collapsed so that the legs 6 are substantially parallel to each otherand to the standard ll.

As best seen in Fig. 3, a spindle assembly is mounted in the upper endof the standard 1 and comprises a shaft or spindle 11 on which aremounted two anti-friction bearings 12 and 13 which are substantiallyspaced one from the other. The bearing 12 may be a ball hearing or aradial thrust bearing, as desired, and has an outside diameter which isgreater than the inside diameter at the standard 1. The bearing 13,which may also be a ball bearing, has an outside diameter which isslightly less than the inside diameter of the standard 1. Thus thebearing 12 rests on the upper edge 14 of the standard l and the bearing13 is slidable into the interior of the standard. The clearance betweenbearing 13 and the standard 1, as shown in Fig. 3, is exaggerated forpurposes of clarity. In actual practice, this clearance is on the orderof .002 inches and is provided solely to permit ready assembly ordisassembly of the spindle unit. From a manufacturing standpoint, atight press fit between the bearing 13 and standard 1 is undesirable,and the drawing merely attempts to illustrate this distinction in whatmust necessarily be an exaggerated manner.

The upper end of the shaft 11 is in the form of a slightly tapered orfrustro-conical extension 15 which surmounts a portion 16 of enlargeddiameter thereby forming a circumferential shoulder 17.

From the portion 16 depends a portion 18 of reduced diameter therebyforming an annular shoulder 19.

From the portion 18 depends another portion 26 of reduced diameter, thisportion being of substantial length and terminating in an extension 21of reduced diameter, thereby forming an annular shoulder 22.

The bearing 12 is secured to the shaft 11 by a press fit onto theportion 18 thereof, the bearing being in abutment with the shoulder 19.

The bearing 13 is secured by pressing it onto the extzeznsion 21 of theshaft 11 into abutment with the shoulder The upper end of the standard 1is threaded as at 23 and threadedly secured thereto is a hearingretaining nut 24 which is especially adapted to encompass the bearing 12and hold it securely against the edge 14 of the standard. The nut 24 isprovided with a central opening 25 which is slightly greater in diameterthan the portion 16 of the shaft 11, and the shaft portion 16 projectstherethrough. The nut is also provided with a small covered oileropening 26 which permits the lubrication of the bearings.

The spindle assembly is thus firmly secured to the standard 1 and theshaft is accurately positioned and retained by the spaced bearings 12and 13 and the nut 24 so that it is freely rotatable about its ownlongitudinal axis.

The shaft 11 serves to support a vane assembly which comprises a fixedblade 27 of rectangular form having oppositely curved ends 28 and 29,and two folding blades 30 and 31 each having a curved end 32 and 33,respecti vely.

The blade 39 is secured as by spot welding to one leaf of a hinge 34which extends the full length of the blade, and the other leaf of thehinge is secured to one face or side of the fixed blade 27 therebyhingedly securing the blade 39 to the blade 27 and permitting pivotalmovement thereof relatively thereto in a horizontal plane.

The blade 31 is similarly hingedly secured to the opposite face of theblade 27.

Each of the blades and 31 has a right-angled flange portion 35 formedthereon which limits pivotal movement of the blades relatively to thefixed blade 27, the lower portion of. the flange 35 being cut away as at36 to provide clearance for a blade support 37 which is secured, as bywelding, to the lower portion of the blade 27.

The blade support 37 comprises two like halves 38 and 39 having wingportions 40 which are symmetrically disposed and secured to oppositesides of the blade 27. Each support element has a laterally extendingportion 41 which overlap each other and each portion 41 is embossed toprovide a semi-cylindrical portion 42, the combination of the twoportions 42 being adapted to fit over and embrace the tapered extension15 of shaft 11.

In addition to being welded to opposite faces of blade 27, the bladesupport halves 38 and 39 are additionally connected by a bolt and nut 43which join the portions 41 and by a bolt and wing nut 44, the latterpermitting the distance to be adjusted somewhat between the halves 38and 39.

The vane assembly also includes two latch members 45 which are disposedon opposite sides of the fixed blade 27 and are pivotally securedthereto as by rivets 46, near the upper edge thereof. Each latch member45 has a hooked flange 47 struck therefrom to one side thereof, andanother hooked flange 48 struck therefrom on the opposite side thereofand spaced from the flange 47. As will hereinafter appear, the latchmembers 45 permit the blades 30 and 31 to be locked in the operative orthe folded positions.

As will be apparent from the foregoing description, the vane assemblymay be placed on the tapered extension 15 of shaft 11 and may befrictionally secured to the shaft by drawing up on the wing nut 44. Theshoulder 17 on shaft 11 serves as a rest for the blade support 37. Theblades 30 and 31 are then moved from the dotted line position shown inFig. 1 to the solid line position there shown. This movement brings theflanges 35 into parallelism With the blade 27 and the latch members 45are then moved downwardly so that the flanges 47 overlie the flanges 35and thereby lock the blades 30 and 31 in position.

The tripod assembly can be adjusted in the manner heretofore describedso as to obtain the desired height of the standard 1 above ground level,the thumb screw 10 being utilized to lock the tripod in selectedposition.

As thus arranged, the vane assembly is exposed to air currents and thecurved ends 28, 29, 32 and 33 of the blades are effective to translatethe slight pressures of such air currents into a rotary motion of thevane assembly.

Due to the novel manner in which the shaft 11 is mounted in the standard1, the frictional resistance to rotative movement of the shaft isextremely low and therefore the vane assembly will rotate in response tothe slightest movement of air. I have found that even when the air isabsolutely still, the breeze created by the passing of highway trafficis suflicient to actuate the vane assembly.

On the other hand, when wind velocity is quite high, there is notendency for the marker to be blown over, as the whirling blades offerfar less resistance to the wind than do the non-rotatable markers whichare currently being used. I have found that a marker embodying theconstruction herein disclosed, will stay upright in the face of windshaving velocities up to one hundred miles per hour.

It will be noted that the clearance between the portion 16 of shaft 11and the opening 25 in retainer nut 24 is small enough to prevent anylarge amount of dirt or foreign matter from entering the interior ofstandard 1. However, in the event rainwater or the like does succeed inentering the tube 1, it quickly drains out through the opening 3 in plug2, heretofore described.

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated the manner in which a legend or warning 49appears on the blades. On a four-bladed vane assembly, such as is hereindescribed, such a legend would appear eight times for each completerevolution of the vane, each blade having its opposite sides imprintedwith the legend.

The legends may be such as School Crossing, Go Slow, Cross Roads," NoParking, Men Working, or, as illustrated.

The legend need-not bethe same on all the blades of the vane assembly.For example, the legendillu-strated in Fig. 2 might be alternated with aGo Slow warning 4 so that two blades would carry one message and theother two blades would carry another related message.

The blades 27, 3t) and 31 may be of metal such as steel, aluminum, etc.,or they may be formed of molded plastic resins or rubber.

It is recommended that the blades be coated with a light reflectingcovering or paint so that it is easily visible both night and day.

When it is desired to disassemble the marker for storage or the like,the latch members 45 are raised thereby releasing the flanges 35 ofblades 30 and 31. The blades are then pivoted to the dotted lineposition shown in Fig. 1 thereby forming a relatively flat, compactassembly. The blades are locked in the folded position by the flanges 48of the latch members 45, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

Referring now to Figs. 8 to 10 of the drawings, I have shown a modifiedform of the invention which may be utilized in those cases where it isnot required that the vane assembly be collapsible. In this instance,the vane assembly comprises two fixed blades 56 and 51 each havingoppositely curved ends 52 and 53. Each blade has a vertical median slot54 extending for half its length so that one blade may be interlockedwith the other as illustrated in Fig. 9.

The blades are held in properly spaced relationship at their upper edgesby a finial 55 having suitable transverse slots provided therein. Thelower portions of the blades are secured to a unitary blade support 56having a central body portion 57 which is adapted to fit on the shaftextension 15 and having four circumferentiallyspaced wings 58 which aresecured to the blades as by welding.

This modified form of vane assembly utilizes the form of standard andtripod assembly which has heretofore been fully described.

In some vicinities, it is customary for merchants or other businessmento pay for such highway markers, as at school crossings or the like. Insuch case, the businessmen usually desire some advertising matter on themarker which will indicate their contribution. Such an advertisingmessage can be provided on a separate piece of metal which may besecured to the upper edge of one of the blades of the marker of Fig. lor of Fig. 8.

It will thus be apparent that I have provided an attention-attractinghighway marker which is highly efficient for the purpose intended andwhich can be folded or collapsed into a compact, space-saving unit.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention,

herewith shown and described, are to be taken as preferred examples ofthe same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement ofparts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of myinvention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A wind-driven vane assembly comprising a fixed blade secured to aspindle for coaxial rotation therewith, a second blade hingedly securedto said fixed blade medianly thereof for pivotal movement into and outof parallelism with said fixed blade, stop means provided on saidsecondblade for limiting pivotal movement thereof to a position ofpredetermined angularity relatively to said fixed blade and movablelatch means are provided on said fixed blade engageable with said secondblade when said second blade is parallel with said fixed blade, andengageable with said stop means when said second blade is pivoted tosaid position of predetermined angularity.

2. In a highway marker, the combination of a hollow tubular standard, aspindle assembly mounted in said standard and having a portion thereofextending upwardly therefrom, a fixed blade removably secured to the endof said spindle assembly for coaxial rotation therewith, foldable bladeshingedly secured to opposite sides of said 'fixed blade for pivotalmovement from a position of parallelism with said fixed blade to anoperative position of predetermined angularity relatively to said fixedblade, and a latch member pivotally secured to said fixed blade, saidlatch member comprising a hooked flange extending to one side of saidfixed blade and en gageable with one of said foldable blades when it isin said position of parallelism, and a second hooked flange extending tothe other side of said fixed blade and engageable with the other of saidfoldable blades whenit is in said operative position, whereby saidfoldable blades may be releasably secured in one or the other of saidpo- Number sitions. 647,884 917,988 References Cited in the file of thispatent 1,571,790 5 1,801,274 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,956,190 Number NameDate 2,094,942 574,411 Gassett Jan. 5, 1897 2,165,562 588,060 Fruit Aug.10, 1897 6 Name Date Silvey Apr. 17, 1900 Barratt Apr. 13, 1909 CamdenFeb. 2, 1926 Hinks Apr. 21, 1931 Brautigan' Apr. 24, 1934 Frye Oct. 5,1937 Mack July 11, 1939

